2014.025

Kiernan, Mel

Gift

Gift of Mel Kiernan.

1987 - 1988

Date(s) Created: 1988 Date(s): 1987

Notes: Archives 2014.025.0702 ==== HOBOKEN HISTORICAL MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 1987 This time last year (January 1987) the Museum had about $2,500 in its bank account; over $500 more than was recently reported by our Treasurer this year at $1981.72. The great difference being that in 1987 there were monthly payments of at least $150 towards office rent and utilities, telephone bills ranging from $15 to $45 each month, plus the expense of producing a monthly newsletter. While during the previous year, the Museum's first, the office space and utilities were donated. So we h.ave progressed to a much more realistic and responsible level in a year's time. We mailed out the first issue of the Museum Newsletter in January and maintained on the average, four pages, monthly (11 issues). The following month we began issuing attractive membership cards and kicked off our first drive to acquire new members; we needed 200 addresses (which could include honorary members) to apply for the special bulk mail which we received in time for the July issue of the Newsletter. Although the price of annual membership was increased from $10 to $15 ($25 for 2 years), our percentage of acquired new members was greater than last year. At the beginning of 1987 we had about 30 paid members; at the end of 1987 we had over 150. The organization's first fund-raising event was a successful week-end of musical talent (at a local popular night spot) sponsored by the Museum in June, raising $2,900. During the year the Museum had tables set up and was represented at the following events: the St. Patrick's Day Parade, The Third Annual Hoboken Waterfront Arts Festival in May, The River City Fair, August 15th and 16th, and the Hoboken Terminal Festival, September 26. Portable displays were at some of these outdoor events, including one at Maxwell's (11th & Washington St.) during the fund raising week-end. There were also two large window displays, one at the Lackawanna Terminal Station for over two months during the spring and one at Museum member Frank Marciano's window on Newark Street. A historical Hoboken slide show was presented at a Hoboken Rotary Club meeting, May 19. In March we were informed that the New Jersey Historical Commission awarded the Museum a $5,500 grant to assist our second exhibition: "The History of Theatre, Vaudeville and Movies in Hoboken", which opened November 20 and was a big success. This year at the opening there were special events presented on all three floors of the City Hall. The attendance, estimated at over 500, was greater than at last year's opening. The exhibit, which will run through September, 1988, is located on the main floor and the stairways and featured prominently on the second floor. It is a much more expansive exhibition than last year with more original historical items and larger pictures, plus two additional display cases purchased by the Museum during the year, bringing the total number of cases to eleven. Considering that the organization is only a little over two years old and that we started on a shoestring, so to speak, we are fortunate that we have been so successful in many ways, one being that we have reached so many people with the knowledge and appreciation of Hoboken history and that we have made a difference in terms of instilling community pride. ==== ==== HOBOKEN HISTORICAL MUSEUM Summary of Income and Expenditures 1987 INCOME N.J. Historical Commission Grant (for major exhibition, first installment) ....... $4,125. New and renewed memberships ........................... 1,600. June fund-raising event ....................................... 2,900. Other donations ............................................... 400. Sale of Museum T-shirts and other items ..... 400. Bank account interest and misc. income (ads) .................. 175. TOTAL . $ 9,600. EXPENDITURES Preparation for major exhibition, photography, printing, etc... $4,600. Preparation for other small exhibits, T-shirts and items for sale........... 400. Misc. items from petty cash, newsletter, telephone bills, etc.. 3,800. Office rent.................................................... 1,000. Utility bills.................................................. 350. TOTAL $10,150. ==== ==== Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2014-06-27